Stalk Me!

About Me

I am merely a girl in a world full of fabulously rich words, begging to be used, manipulated, situated comfortably in sentences as lengthy and enlightening as possible. I am here to grant their loftiest wishes.

In addition to being a girl, I am seventeen years old, have just graduated from high school after [miraculously] managing to stuff four years of school into three, and am working as a bookseller at Barnes and Noble* for the summer. I’m heading off to Southern Virginia University in the fall to major in English and History, happily saddled with dreams of becoming an editor for a publishing house in London. Why London? Because I’m an Anglophile in love with everything British from Doctor Who to Devonshire Cream. Also, Hogwarts is in England, which I consider enough of a reason.

I started blogging in eighth grade and have been reviewing books from the start. Sadly, AP classes and theatre and studying studying studying have meant little time for blogging in the past two years, but I hope to revive this little blog of mine and, hopefully, start writing books of my own again. No matter how busy I am, I am haunted by a desire to read and write. I know this is what I love and that, in the end, the world of words is the one I belong in.

If you’d like to contact me, click the tab to the left. If you’re a publisher or author who would like something reviewed, please read my Review Policy here before using the contact page.

*My opinions on this blog are my own and should not be attributed in any way to my employer.

Best. Quotes. Ever.

Collected Works

Anticipating Anything?

by Madeleine Rex

YEEEEEEES!

Castle is my healthy obsession. It makes me so happy that I’ve occasionally cried for joy while giggling and clapping my hands. And I like to think that I benefit from it, too (see My 2D and Paper & Ink Families).

But that’s not the point. Well, there’s not really much of a point for this post (blame hours of homework for every lame attempt of mine at blogging), but I want to ask: Is there anything you’re eagerly anticipating? School? A book (whether it’s one you’re waiting for or your own)? A movie? A friend’s visit?

Anticipation is so exciting, isn’t it? Sometimes, it’s so great it’s better than the actual event/occasion itself. Ideally, while we’re reading, the anticipation pays off. The term “page turner” is applied only to books that make the reader feel such a potent feeling of anticipation that they’re almost tearing pages out of the book in their haste to turn them. As a writer, it’s crucial that we can induce anticipation in a reader, no matter what the genre. Can none of us say that we hugely anticipated events in Looking for Alaska just as we did those in The Hunger Games?

No matter what the genre, no matter what the story, that thrilling sense of anticipation is crucial. And then comes doing good on your promise. Being disappointed after anticipating something for weeks/100 pages is like reaching the peak of a roller coaster and then realizing it levels out from there instead of giving you that gut-tingling surge to the ground. Create anticipation, allow the reader to cash in on it, and you’re on your way to being a rip-roaring success.

How do you make a reader feel anticipation? Have you ever been let down after anticipating a major event for a long time? What are you looking forward to now?

1) WOOOOOOT for Castle. I literally discovered this show 2 weeks ago and have been obsessively watching it since. I'm 1/2-way through season 2. DON'T tell me what happens. 😉

(I <3 Nathan Fillion 4 Life)

2) I have definitely been let down after anticipating things. I'm on of those who likes to get her hopes VERY high because–as you said–the anticipation can be better than the actual event.

3) I am looking forward to a TON of books due out at the end of September and start of October. Oh, and one book I REALLY want is CINDER which is due out in early 2012. Um…I'm also anticipating good news for my latest book on subs, but you know how THAT goes–there's a ton of angst and no end date in sight. 😛

Castle is definitely healthy! (You've got me searching for "Ask Castle" videos!)
I'm anticipating the premiere of Hart of Dixie on The CW! One more week before it premieres!
I think creating anticipation is hard, not just for me but for everyone.